10 Best Independent Living Communities in Ankeny, IA

Independent Living

Independent Living Communities provide individuals with a handy balance between an independent lifestyle and not having to worry about the basic tasks of housekeeping and chores. Frequent needs such as the scheduling of social activities and housekeeping are taken care of, which provides residents more opportunities to live life as they wish. Along with their daily needs being met, residents can enjoy the opportunity to be among peers, in a community with others of similar age groups and interests. Residents’ quarters consist of a private living space with their own kitchen. The independence of apartment life is still enjoyed, offering an opportunity to socialize with guests and visitors in a private and personal setting. While policies vary between locations, many residences allow pets as well. If residents decide they would like to employ the services of private health care providers, they may always do so. There are a variety of expenses and advantages to keep in mind when deciding on an independent living community. It is important to figure out if these services are included in your care plan: laundry, parking, transportation, private phone, field trips, housekeeping, wellness program, and internet access. The conveniences associated with independent living include private rental hall, concierge services, beauty salon & barber shop, security guards, game/TV room, laundry service, transportation, and restaurant-style dining hall.

Demographics and Values

In terms of education, 18.7% have a high-school diploma, 12.6% have a graduate degree, and 45.4% have a college degree. Racially, the population of Ankeny is 1.5% mixed race, 0.1% other or not specified, 2.6% Hispanic, 0.0% Native American, 94.4% white, 0.0% Pacific Islander or Native Hawaiian, 2.4% Asian, and 1.5% black. In Ankeny, 6.7% have some form of disability, 3.0% are widows, 79.1% participate in the labor force, and 4.0% do not have health insurance. The total population of Ankeny consists of 62,416 people. Ankeny has a population density of 804 people per square mile. The current population of Ankeny is growing at a rate of 0.046%. In terms of non-Christian denominations in Ankeny, out of the total population 0.4% practice Judaism, 0.2% practice an Eastern religion, and 0.4% practice Islam. In terms of Christian denominations, out of the total population of Ankeny 15.1% practice Catholicism, 6.8% are Lutherans, and 6.7% practice another Christian faith. In Ankeny, 53.8% are nonbelievers. In Ankeny, 7.4% of the population are veterans of the United States military. Ankeny is considered very friendly to members of the LGBTQ+ community. In terms of crime, Ankeny has 13.3 property crimes per 1000 residents and 2.1 violent crimes per 1000 residents. Based on gender, 51.1% are female and 48.9% are male. In Ankeny, 15.7% of the population are over the age of 55, 6.9% are over the age of 60, 3.5% are over the age of 70, and 2.2% are over the age of 80. The median age of Ankeny is 32 years old. During the previous presidential election, 7.9% voted for a third party candidate, 51.7% voted Democrat, and 40.4% voted Republican in Polk county.

Cost of Living

Cost of living can be a motivating factor when choosing which care choice works best. Ankeny has a cost-of-living index of 102.8 based on an average rating of 100, where anything higher than 100 is more costly than the national average. Ankeny has a grocery index of about 92.9. The rent burden for Ankeny is about 17.5% of the average monthly income. The median monthly rent in Ankeny is around $1,395 and the median value for a home for Ankeny is approximately $198,611.

Regional Climate and Weather Information

Weather is a significant factor in determining which destination is the right fit for your family. On average, the humidity level for Ankeny is around 57%. The average humidity levels are highest in December at around 61%. Monthly, Ankeny gets about 3 inches of precipitation. The most precipitation normally falls in June with an average of 7 inches during the month. Ankeny experiences an average of 33.90 inches of snow per year. Ankeny has a hot-summer humid continental type of climate. On average, the air quality index rating in Ankeny is approximately 41.5. The average air quality conditions are rated as good. This means that there is no health advisory associated with the air quality for this destination. The air quality index rating reaches its max score in the month of May at about 58.8. During this time, the average air quality conditions are rated moderate. This means that those who are unusually sensitive should consider limiting the amount of time spent on outdoor exertion. During the summertime, Ankeny is about 76F. The summer high temperature is at about 89F in the month of July. The low summer temperature falls to around 62F during June. During winter months, the temperature in Ankeny drops to around 27F. The highest winter temperature gets to about 39F during the month of February. The lowest winter temperature gets to roughly 14 F during the month of January.

State Information

An overview of Iowa

Overall, Iowa ranks 14th in quality of life and 20th in healthcare compared to other US states. The state of Iowa has a cost of living index of 91.8 where a score of 100 is the national average, and anything below 100 is considered less expensive than the national average. The state has a grocery index rating of 95.9 and a housing index rating of 79.6. There are 120 general hospitals and 75 health centers that provide care for 3,168,703 Iowa residents. The three highest ranked hospitals in Iowa are Mercy Hospital, St. Lukes Hospital, and And Mercy Medical Center – Cedar Rapids. Based on natural beauty, Iowa ranks 32nd in the nation.

Social demographics of the state

In Iowa, 36% of the population attend some form of religious service and there are 5,107 different congregations. The top three non-Christian denominations in the state are Jewish-<1%, Muslim-<1%, and Buddhist-<1%, with the most common Christian denominations consisting of Evangelical Protestant-28%, Mainline Protestant-30%, and Historically Black Protestant-2%. In Iowa there are 289 masonic lodges. The state of Iowa ranks 43rd in the country for diversity, and the state is considered LGBTQ friendly. In the last presidential election 42% of Iowa residents voted Democrat and 51% voted Republican. The median age in the state is 38, and 30% of the population is over the age of 55.

State-wide weather information

The average air quality index rating in Iowa is 41.2 AQI. The highest seasonal air quality index rating occurs in the month of May with a rating of 53.8 AQI. The average monthly precipitation for the state of Iowa is around 2.93 inches. The average amount of precipitation peaks during the month of July at around 6.46 inches. On average, the humidity rating for Iowa is around 72%. The highest monthly average humidity rating is 78% in the month of December. During the summer, the average temperature in Iowa is around 72F. Over the summer months the average high temperature peaks at around 88F during the month of July. The average low summer temperature is around 55F in the month of June. The average temperature in the winter falls to around 22F. The average high winter temperature is around 40F in the month of February. The average low temperature during the winter drops to around 4F in the month of January. While residents of Iowa mostly enjoy pleasant conditions, it’s important to be aware of inclement weather as well, which in Iowa can include floods and earthquakes (high).

Wildlife to be found in Iowa

The state of Iowa has a diverse array of plant and animal life. Local plant life can consist of pink lady’s slipper, western beard-tongue, bunchberry, and twinleaf. While venturing throughout the state, you might see animals such as the coyote, the bear, the porcupine, or the gray wolf. The state animal of Iowa is the eastern goldfinch.